Here's one invaluable boiler service tool for you.

JohnNY · December 15

Of course there are several ways to do this but when running into a difficult low-voltage, transformer-blowing, no-heat service call, this breaker protected external power supply is a fantastic tool for providing temporary power that trips instead of burning anything.

A customer's boiler stopped working this week when there became an issue with their neutral/grounding in a sub breaker panel. I'm not qualified or insured to diagnosed or deal with much of that so running an extension cord to this device from RIB which gave us the power we needed to keep the home from freezing during this week's cold weather.

I'm so happy I bought these things I just had to tell someone. That's you. Thanks for reading.

-JohnNY

JohnNY · December 15

Never mind that the boiler piping is a disaster. That's a different conversation.

trivetman · December 15

ive thought about the nightmare scenario of an extended winter power outage, and Ive got just enough electrical knowledge to be dangerous. If desperate, Ive thought I would disconnect the boiler wiring from the house supply and find a way to connect it to a portable generator. Awful idea?

ethicalpaul · December 15

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1827029#Comment_1827029

I think it's an awesome idea, but I would check out those lithium battery power stations. No noise, no fumes, no fuel, no problem. Recharge on your car if necessary.

https://www.amazon.com/BLUETTI-Portable-AC180-Generator-Off-grid/dp/B0C1SMJTDT

mattmia2 · December 15

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1827032#Comment_1827032

yeah, if it is a steam boiler you can run it off a small inverter or ups. iuf it is a hot water boiler with a smallish circulator you can run it off a larger battery and inverter.

for my furnace i found the molex plug that the power from the junction box uses so i have a cord where i unplug that plug and plug in the cord and can plug it in to a generator. the utility was about 6 years behind in their 4 year tree trimming cycle so i was having several day power outages a couple times a year.

mattmia2 · December 15

@JohnNY another thing i would add to that is a lampholder and 1 24v incandescent lamp or 2 12v lamps i could switch in series so when looking for a short the lamp would limit the current without tripping the breaker so i could look for what was shorted with a meter. Maybe just make it a 3rd terminal on the terminal strip.

Jamie Hall · December 15

I was going to mention the lamp idea. Very useful! And better yet, wire it so you can use 2 12 volt lamps in series, as you can get them at any autoparts store and a lot of hardware stores…

TKPK · December 15

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1827029#Comment_1827029

I have hooked mine up to a boat battery with an inverter hooked up to the disconnect. Of course it was disconnected from the house.

Ran for days when the house had no power and sub zero temps. Now I have a generator but not then.

fentonc · December 15

@ethicalpaul - I have a Bluetti AC200Max that can probably power my boiler + circulator for a day or two (and I can recharge via an inverter connected to my car). Being able to leave it inside (and not having it make any noise/fumes) is a very nice property. I re-wired my boiler to use an "EZ Generator" transfer switch that lets me just plug the battery into the boiler and throw the switch.

ethicalpaul · December 15

Nice. Keep in mind you don't have to leave the inverter powered up the whole time. You could let the temp drop a couple degrees, then power up the inverter, let it heat up the place a few degrees then power it down, it should last much longer since the inverter itself probably uses more power than the boiler (at least in the case of atmospheric)

EBEBRATT-Ed · December 15

3 x 2 reducers on the boiler supply to copper no less. I don't see any issue with that LOL😊

delcrossv · December 15

Worst hack I've done recently was to use the transformer from boiler A to run boiler B that had a smoked power supply.

2 for 1 until the supply house opened on Monday.

Oldest son rigged a failed relay with a screwdriver, but that's another story.

mattmich · December 16

I'm not the first to say this, but man, that too me back a few years…

» If desperate, Ive thought I would disconnect the boiler wiring from the house supply and find a way to connect it to a portable generator. Awful idea?

Great idea.

That's what I wound up doing in the winter of 2013, when a freak storm happened where everything was frozen and dry and then it warmed up enough to rain, causing trees to be encased in a thick — and heavy — coat of ice. We were without power for 8 days and I took a battery from one of the cars and used an inverter to power the boiler.

Thankfully my employer has their own power station — and underground lines — so they stayed on and I could charge the battery when needed. We had heat, we had internet, we had hot water, and even watched TV occasionally. Felt quite luxurious. I've kept a spare battery around ever since.

hot_rod · December 16

I live a few miles from Goal Zero. Once a year they have a warehouse sale. I picked up an open box 1500 for 1/2 off. I use it in my camper

its nice to have the inverter and charge controller built in. Recharge from solar, 120v or a car charger

USB plugs also

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109A_5 · December 16

Hello JohnNY,

When troubleshooting electrical issues it is nice to have options and your own, easy to set up and use equipment. Having your own 24 VAC power source that you don't have to cobble together every time it is needed is nice.

The 24 VAC worth of incandescent lamp(s) as mentioned above, I am a strong proponent of Dim Bulb or Dim Lamp testing, good visual indication of an over-load or not, limits the circuit current to a safe level, keeps the circuit live for troubleshooting and self resetting (automatic resetting, since it is never really off).

I would also have a Lil popper like device or two POP3 & POP5 or the equivalent. To me the Lil popper is just a circuit beaker with a rating appropriate for HVAC equipment and has some specialized wires added to it. Similar circuit breakers are a lot less expensive without the wires.

I got a bit lost with the OP stating " running into a difficult low-voltage, transformer-blowing, no-heat service call " and " A customer's boiler stopped working this week when there became an issue with their neutral/grounding in a sub breaker panel. " were these two different service calls ?

Was there an open neutral back to the utility ? If so what did you plug your PSH100AB10-EXT2 into that would not have the same (over-Voltage ?) issues. JohnNY any further details on that situation ?

mattmia2 · December 16

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1827128#Comment_1827128

The neutral to a subpanel was bad so he plugged this in to a circuit out of a different panel.

retiredguy · December 16

I once used a 120 volt wall receptacle for the 120 volt control power to 2 hot water boilers in a school since the union electrician and I had an argument over how he ran that designated power supply. He had little idea what he was doing and when I tried to help he went ballistic since he "knew it all". They ran those 2 boilers that way for 2 years until I came back and pulled the wiring I needed after the job was finalized.

Here's one invaluable boiler service tool for you.

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